ThisWeek CW 10/03/2013
Groveport’s 40th annual Apple Butter Day will serve up a full platter of family fun this year.
The free, daylong event celebrating Groveport’s pioneer heritage will open at 10 a.m. and continue through 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Road.
After the success of last year’s event, when the festival committee increased the number of attractions by nearly 25 percent, organizers Patty Storts and Carla Cramer said this year’s Apple Butter Day will maintain the increased size.
“This will be a full day of family fun, with something to entertain everyone from infants all the way up to senior citizens,” Storts said.
The event is hosted jointly by the Heritage Society and the city of Groveport.
More than 70 food and craft vendors have signed up for this year’s festival. All vendors are expected to sell only handcrafted goods and, according to Cramer, much of the food is prepared and sold by local nonprofit groups to benefit the community.
Storts said the crafts will include homemade soaps and lotions, jewelry, woodcarving and handpainted carpets; there also will be craft demonstrations to show festival visitors how many of the handmade items are created.
Once again, the Groveport Senior Center Quilters will raffle off one of their handcrafted quilts, with all proceeds to benefit the senior center. The city also honors many of its oldest residents by recognizing the octogenarians who attend Apple Butter Day, providing them with a free jar of apple butter.
Kids of all ages can test their skills in both the Fishing Derby at Palm Pond and the Spelling Bee on the Main Stage.
The Fishing Derby will be open to all children up to age 15, who will participate in one of three age categories. The first 50 kids registered will be provided with cane poles and bait to use in the derby.
Another activity at Palm Pond will be an encampment of Civil War re-enactors to educate and entertain; for the agricultural enthusiasts, an antique tractor collection will be on display as well.
In the Kids Area, there will be pony rides and hayrides as well as a petting zoo, a visit from Johnny Appleseed and storytelling. Kidspace also will be open during the festival, serving up cornbread and beans.
Cramer said the festival always brings out a good crowd and is like a homecoming for many.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone to touch base with their old friends and neighbors,” she said.
Storts agreed: “And we’ve got some great entertainment this year, including bluegrass and country music. It will be a great family event.”
The schedule includes:
Main Stage
10 to 11 a.m. — The Treble Clefs, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s music
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Out of Mind, Bluegrass
1 to 2 p.m. — Spelling Bee and octogenarian recognition
2 to 4 p.m. — Tyler Wayne, Country Western singer
4 to 5:30 p.m. — Sod Busters, Bluegrass
Palm Pond
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Civil War re-enactors
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Fishing Derby
Log House
Noon to 2 p.m. — Storytellers Priscilla Hewetson and Ellen Ford
2:30 to 4:30 p.m. — Storytellers Mark Springer and Roger Tedrow
Kids Area
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — pony rides, hayrides and petting zoo
Noon to 3 p.m. — Rodney Ross as Johnny Appleseed
2 to 4 p.m. — Storyteller Ellen Ford
Apple Butter Day, a free event celebrating Groveport’s pioneer heritage, opens at 10 a.m. and continue through 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Road.